International Perspectives on Narrative Victimology

Narrative Victimology has recently emerged as a distinct and complementary subfield of narrative criminology, offering a critical paradigm for understanding how narratives/stories play a role in identity (re)construction post-victimization, the impact of narratives/stories on how others view the individual post-victimization, and how narratives/stories offer insights about the temporality of harm (i.e. how an individual views their past, present, and future post-victimization). This Special Issue brings together eight studies engaged in Narrative Victimology, showcasing the benefits of the narrative approach across a variety of crime victimization types. The authors of this collection of Narrative Victimology articles offer insights on how victimization narratives may help governments improve victim support mechanisms and crime prevention strategies. The issue is international in scope, with studies from the US, Denmark, the Netherlands, Belgium, South Africa, and Northern Ireland.